Construction Technology Transfer Research Articles

The Cost of Technology Transfer in Construction Companies (In Iraq)

The construction sector is considered an important and influential pivot in the national economy of any country. Nations are working to develop this sector, receiving modern and developed techniques. So, this sector can be a carrier or a receiver of modern technologies. The cost of technology transfer between the international companies that sponsor this sector is a matter of great importance, especially since different factors affect the need for this advanced technology. The cost of technology transfer in construction is related to multiple factors presented by Knowledge, equipment, plant, hardware and software. The lack of distinguishing and evaluating the direct and indirect costs in the construction sector during technology transfer may lead to infractions in the company's budget. This manuscript aims to investigate the direct and indirect costs of transferring technology and the major factors constrained by this process. This work adopted a theoretical study and investigated the opinions of experts and engineers (by questionnaire) working in different construction sites. This Manuscript showed that the largest weight of the cost for both modern equipment and counsulant/designers is a direct cost and indirect cost, respectively, for transferring technology in the construction sector.

An Adaptable Conceptual Model for Construction Technology Transfer: The BRI in Africa, the Case of Ethiopia

Unlike other developmental relationships, BRI is the most promising icon in transforming the construction industry and built environment in Africa; the infrastructure developments like highways, bridges, skyscrapers, and aviation take in advanced construction technologies, methods, and skills. However, the technological capability of Chinese construction firms is not transferred in the highest capacity to the host countries. Nevertheless, the main focus is on delivering modern railways, highways, and skyscrapers. Thus, this research aimed to propose an adaptable technology transfer model by identifying the theoretical concepts in the body of knowledge, exploring the prior technology transfer models and the best experiences. The findings indicated that the BRI inclusive countries in Africa benefit from infrastructure development with an investment amount of more than US$33 billion with potential technology spillovers, but in an unplanned, and not best suited to their conditions because of the lack of a single-country-based technology, transfer model ahead of project implementation. Using a systems thinking approach and a causal loop diagram tool, the authors created a conceptual model to guide the Africa’s construction technology transfer through BRI. The research also examined case study projects in Ethiopia to assert the new model’s practicability over the existing processes. Moreover, the university–industry linkage structures, can facilitate the process through R&D and innovation in the whole project life cycle.

Best practices for health and safety technology transfer in construction.

Construction continues to be a dangerous industry, yet solutions that would prevent injury and illness do exist. Prevention of injury and illness among construction workers requires dissemination, adoption, and implementation of these effective interventions, or "research to practice" (r2p). CPWR recruited participants with experience and insight into effective methods for diffusion of health and safety technologies in this industry for a symposium with 3 group sessions and 3 breakout groups. The organizers reviewed session notes and identified 141 recommendations, which were then assigned to 13 over-arching themes. Recommendations included a guide for researchers on patenting and licensing, a business case model, and in-depth case studies including development, testing, manufacturing, marketing, and diffusion. A more comprehensive understanding of the health and safety technology transfer landscape, the various actors, and their motivators and goals will help to foster the successful commercialization and diffusion of health and safety innovations.

An Investigation into Barriers of Technology Transfer in the Construction Industry in Iran and Malaysia

Technology transfer in the international construction industry is an important source as it helps companies move to better stages of design and construction capabilities. Three main barriers of technology transfer in construction have been identified through literature review—language barrier, cultural barrier and procurement options. The importance of these barriers has been identified through survey in the construction industry in Iran and Malaysia. 102 responses were received. Through SPSS analysis, the impacts of these barriers have been identified. The impact percentages are: language barrier 12.1%, cultural barrier 52.8% and procurement options 88.3%. Future researches are required in procurement options particularly in developing countries.

"Informes de la Construcción": pasado, presente y futuro

This paper aims to contribute to the activities planned by the IETcc on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the journal Informes de la Construccion , including this special issue of Informes – as the journal is familiarly known within the Spanish scientific community –, which has been and continues to be the Institute’s flag bearer, its senior-most journal with the longest uninterrupted history. The paper highlights its importance as a source of information for the study of the scientific and technical development of construction in Spain over the last six decades, as well as its role in the technology transfer in construction, not only in Spain, for beyond the national borders it continues to be a benchmark in Latin America and it is present in most of the countries known for their highly advanced construction techniques. After a brief introduction on the origins of Informes in the IETcc as a vehicle for publicizing the technical novelties generated in construction, the paper analyzes the main stages in its evolution, particularly 1948-1981, 1981-2005 and from 2006 to the present. With a diachronic study, it shows the variations in the journal’s content, form – particularly its layout –, and circulation strategies. Finally, it reflects on the future in store for Informes in today’s society where access to information has changed so radically since the advent of the Internet.

Benchmarking construction technology transfer in Thailand

PurposeIn an attempt to better diagnose the health of international construction technology transfer (TT) ventures and ultimately improve rates of TT, this paper promotes benchmarking as a tool for measuring baseline and future performance across a wide range of TT perspectives.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing the results from a questionnaire survey of 162 construction industry professionals from Thailand, a TT performance measurement framework, consisting of eight diverse perspectives was formulated through exploratory factor analysis.FindingsThe developed framework included eight perspectives which represent the enablers and outcomes of the TT process, namely: technology characteristics; government influence; relationship building; transferor characteristics; transferee characteristics; economic advancement; knowledge advancement; and project performance. This framework was utilized to provide a baseline benchmark index of TT performance in Thailand. A benchmark score of 70 per cent was determined, implying that up to 2005, construction TT ventures in Thailand have been operating moderately to highly effectively/successfully. Moreover, the TT performance of individual transferor nationalities operating in Thailand was compared. The study provides some evidence that Japanese construction firms are not only the leading exporter of construction services to Thailand but also perform slightly higher across TT performance perspectives influenced by the transferor.Research limitations/implicationsQuestionnaire items which attempted to explain the impact of cultural differences between the transferor and transferee were statistically problematic and subsequently removed from the conceptual framework. Cultural factors undoubtedly play a part in the international TT process on construction projects.Practical implicationsThe developed TT benchmarking method could be used by international funding agencies, governments of developing and newly industrialized countries and construction firms to more effectively evaluate the TT process and the outcomes it derives for the host construction sector.Originality/valueThe paper provides a robust method for benchmarking the TT process and its derived outcomes in a construction context.

Technology transfer: A survey of international construction companies

This paper reports on a survey of technology transfer undertaken by international construction companies in developing countries. The views of construction professionals with extensive work experience in developing countries were consulted in a questionnaire survey of top UK and US consultants and contractors. The aim of the survey was to determine the areas of construction technology transfer that provide maximum benefit to local communities, the most effective way of improving technology transfer, the main obstacles experienced and how these obstacles may be overcome. The results show that several companies actively undertake technology transfer exercises in an ad hoc manner and their obligations to the recipients need to be specifically defined.